There's Always One

The Great Mezmurino sighed. The drunk girl in the first row kept checking her phone, sighing, and shaking her head as he explained his act to the crowd, but he was going to have some fun with her.

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Natalia Watkins didn't really want to go to a hypnosis act, but Zach, her gay friend and neighbor had won two free tickets and talked her into. They arrived early and had a couple of drinks, and the ones Natalia ordered were pretty strong.

"Natalia, hush!" said Zach.

"Come on, this is a joke," said Natalia. "He's got plants in the crowd or some really weak-willed people." Either way," she raised her voice, "I can't be hypnotized!"

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Mick 'Mezmurino' Murrino was growing tired of Natalia, but he went on with his act. He went through is normal spiel about how it worked, and soon had several people, including Natalia and Zach, were under.

He had Natalia come up on stage while in a trance. "Tell me your name," he told her.

"Natalia."

"But you prefer people to call you 'annoying Nat.' What do you like to be called?"

"Annoying Nat."

"Annoying Nat, it's hot in here, really hot, and that top is very top, itchy, and uncomfortable.":

Natalia started to squirm and pull at her top,.

"Just remove it, Annoying Nat, and you'll feel better.:

The top was thick cloth, and Mick didn't realize Natalia would be topless when she took it off until she was topless. Those in the crowd who were not under loved it

"Annoying Nat, when I snap my fingers, you'll be convinced I hypnosis did not work on you, but if I tell you to do something, you'll do it without a second thought. Understand, Annoying Nat?"

"Yes."

"When you realize you're in a state of undress, you'll come backstage and demand to see me," he whispered as he passed behind her.

"Annoying Nat, sit back down."

The topless Natalia sat back down.

"Annoying Nat, when I clap my hands, you, and only you will wake up, but you won't realize you're topless." Mick clapped his hands, and Natalia awoke from her trance.

"Ladies and gentlemen," said Mick, "see how easily I hypnotized so many of the audience."

Natalia looked at Zach, who was in a trance then saw some other entranced people. She raised her hand.

"Yes?" asked Mick.

"Um, I told you I can't be hypnotized."

"And what do people call you?"

"Annoying Nat."

"Why don't you take your pants off and just enjoy the rest of the show."

"Whatever," said Natalia. She stood up, removed her pants, leaving her only wearing sandals and a white thong.

Mick went on with the show: he made people act like chickens, think they were naked, think they spoke alien languages, forget their names, etc. He also told Zach not to notice anything unusual about anyone in the place, including Natalia.

"Why would he notice anything odd about me?" Asked Natalia, confused as to why the unhypnotized thought that was funny.

Then he wrapped up the show, and Natalia went to the bar for another drink.